Axle-gaging device



D. H. TURNBULL.

AXLE GAGING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-24.1917.

1 96,477, Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXLE-GAGING DEVICE.

Application filed December 24, 1917.

r the wheels mounted thereon.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a gage adapted for easily, accurately, and quickly detecting uniformity, or lack of uniformity, of the bend or angularity of the spindles with relation to the axle-tree and to each other, whereby the axle may be accurately and easily formed or shaped to give the required and a like swing and gather to the wheels, thereby obviating undue wear of tires due to diverse inclinations of wheel swing and gather, as is well understood in the art. A further object is to provide a ga e indicating the swing inclination of both spindles with relation to each other and to the axle-tree, and by giving a quarter turn to the axle without removing same from the gage, indicating the gather inclination of the spindles, the weight and turning movement of the axle serving to operate the indicating means.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanyings drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the gage.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 4L diagrammatically illustrates either the swing or gather of the front wheels of a vehicle, according as the diagram is viewed in elevation or in plan.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates an elongated metal base consisting of a hollow casting, and provided in its upper side with elongated parallel slots Q. Mounted upon the base 1 adjacent the ends thereof are pedestals 3 and 4., the former of which is permanently secured to the base, and the latter adjust ably secured to the base by means of bolts 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Serial No. 208,678.

passed through the slots 2 and the pedestal base 6, with screw nuts 7 on the bolts for locking the base against movement. Obviously, by slightly unscrewing the nuts, the pedestal may be shifted within the limits of the slot lengths, and the span between both pedestals 3 and 4 varied to accommodate varying lengths of axles. In Fig. 1 is shown in dotted lines an axle 8 in proper position as supported by the pedestals for gaging the same.

Mounted on the upper ends of the pedes- 'tals are swivel pins 9, having integrally formed collars 10 adapted to rest on the pedestal ends, and lower end portions 11 extending into a cylindrical bore 12 in the pedestals, whereby the pins are permitted to have a turning movement with relation to the pedestals. Carried by the upper ends of the pins 9 are heads 13, having complementary spaced ears 14, adapted to overlap the pin end, and alining bores in the ears and pin to receive a pivot bolt 15, whereby the heads are permitted to have a pivotal movement in a vertical plane. Fixedly secured to each pin 9 on the opposite sides thereof, are stop members 16 adapted to limit the pivotal movement of the heads. It will be apparent from the foregoing, that the heads 13 as mounted and supported are adapted to have both a rotative movement in a horizontal plane, and a pivotal movement in a vertical plane.

Suitably secured to the heads 13 are horizontally disposed indicator arms or pointers 17, the free ends of which overlie marking plates 18, upon which chalk or pencil marks may be made with either edge of the pointer serving as a rule for the purpose, and by a comparison of which marks the relative angularity of the axle spindles with relation to each other and to the axle-tree may be determined. The marking plates 18 are preferably supported by means of brackets 19, secured to the pedestal as shown. Viewing Fig. 4.- as a plan view, the spindles are shown bent or angled with relation to the axle-tree, so that the wheels will ride in slightly forwardly converging planes. Each of the heads 13 is provided with a V-shaped inclined groove 20 to serve as a rest for the spindle, and the weight of the axle, when held in its general line of direction, will cause the spindles guided by the V-formation of the grooves, to seat in accordance with the angle of the spindles, and thus impart a horizontal turning movement to the heads, the extent of which will be indicated by the pointers l7, and in which manner the axle may be accuratelv gaged to give the wheels the desired gather. ing ig. 4 as a front elevation, the inclinations of the axle spindles are shown to give the wheels a swing or inward angle toward the point of traction, the extent of which spindle inclination is indicated by giving the axle an upward quarter turn, which will cause a pivotal movement of the heads in a vertical plane, the extent of which movement will be indicated by the vertical pointers 21, fixedly attached at their upper ends to the heads, the surface of the base, as at 22, serving as a place for making comparative markings asguided by the pointers. Each of the pointers 21 is provided intermediate {its ends with a secondary pointer 23, and a marking plate 24L is arrangedimmediately beneath the free end thereof, and supported by a bracket 25 secured to the pedestal. In the case of an extensive-movement of the pointers the marking'plates nearest the axes of movement may be used, and if such movement is minute, the marking plates most remote may be used, as convenience in making comparative measurement may dictate. It has been found in practice to be convenient for the average workmen to indicate such movements by making chalk or pencil marks thereon guided by the'pointers, and then comparing the markings for each pair of pointers to determine the extent of variance of movement thereof, if any, to the end that the axle spindles may be made to have uniform inclinations with relation to the axle-tree to give. a like swing and gather to the wheels to be mounted thereon.

While the foregoing is the preferred form of my invention, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described, as it is ob- Now viewvious that the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

W'hat is claimed is 1. An axle gaging device comprising spaced standards, means for adjusting said standards in relation to each other, vertically disposed pins rotatably mounted in bearings in the upper ends of the standards, axle spindle receiving heads pivoted to the upper ends of the pins and movable in a vertical plane, horizontally disposed arms carried by said heads and parallel to each other, brackets carried by the standards and underlying the horizontally disposed arms and provided with marking portions, outwardly and downwardly extending arms carried by the opposite sides of the heads and having their downwardly disposed portions sul stantially vertically disposed and marking plates carried by the standards and disposed adjacent the downwardly extending vertical portions of said arms.

2. An axle gaging device comprising a standard, a vertically disposed pin rotatably mounted in a bearing in the upper end of said standard, an axle spindle receiving head pivoted to the upper end of said pin and movable in a vertical plane, a horizontally disposedarm carried by one side of said head, a bracket carried by the standard and underlying the horizontally disposed arm and provided with marking portions, an outwardly and downwardly, extending arm carriedby the other side of the head and having its downwardly disposed portions substantially vertically disposed, and a marking late carried by the standard and dispose adjacent the downwardly extending vertical portion of the outwardly and downwardly extending arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DAVID HIT'URNBULL. 

